The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will publish two separate Calls for Information and Nominations for possible leasing in areas off the coast of Oregon and in the Central Atlantic.
BOEM director Amanda Lefton (pictured) made the announcement at the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum.
“The calls for information and nominations for Oregon and the Central Atlantic provide an important avenue to solicit information as we identify potential areas that may be suitable for future offshore wind energy leasing,” said Lefton.
Scheduled to publish in the Federal Register on 29 April, each call will initiate a separate comment period during which the public can submit relevant information on site conditions, marine resources, and ocean uses near or within the call areas.
Concurrently, wind energy companies can nominate specific areas they would like to see offered for leasing.
The calls come after engagement with stakeholder organisations, ocean users, federal agencies, states, Tribal governments and other parties to identify conflicts and engage early in the process as BOEM seeks to advance offshore wind in areas of least impact.
BOEM is seeking information on six distinct areas in the Central Atlantic comprising almost 3.9 million acres.
The closest point to the shore of any of the areas is approximately 20 nautical miles off the Central Atlantic coast.
The Oregon call requests information on two areas that together comprise approximately 1,158,400 acres.
Both areas – the Coos Bay Call Area and the Brookings Call Area – begin about 12 nautical miles from shore at their closest points, off the coast of central and southern Oregon, respectively.